Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2005 anticipates that a key highlight of the coming year will be the race between improving fundamentals (occupancy rates, leasing rates, operating expenses, etc.) and rising interest rates. "Can real estate supply/demand fundamentals improve enough in 2005 and 2006 to offset the potential negative impact of rising interest rates on property values and pricing? Make no mistake, the race is on," says the report. "For 2005, it all comes back to interest rates, the economy and job growth."
The report cites several factors that could impede economic expansion: federal government budget deficits; the balance of trade deficits; the weak dollar; unprecedented levels of consumer debt; inflationary pressures from high oil prices; rising employer healthcare costs; "choppy" job growth prospects; queasiness over terrorism threats; uncertainly surrounding the Iraq War and the possibility of interest rate spikes.
The report notes that most new jobs being created have been concentrated in service industries such as restaurants, temp agencies, retail sales and building services — niches that "don't fill office buildings or have the earning power to generate growth in other property sectors," says Emerging Trends. Part of the reason is the maturing of America's dominant businesses — telecommunication, financial services and pharmaceuticals — which recently have experienced widespread consolidations in order "to squeeze out efficiencies rather than grow new jobs as in the past."
According to the report, many interviewees are looking to health care and biotech to stimulate new job growth, particularly as baby boomers age. Additionally, "advances in high tech should bring the industry out of its bubble-triggered slump," notes Emerging Trends.
While the report points out that Internet technology has greatly reduced the need for office support staff and expensive headquarters space, Emerging Trends also reports that the recent public discussion concerning "offshore outsourcing" is dismissed by many interviewees as "overblown media hype."
Emerging Trends survey participants increasingly voiced concern over America's schools and their ability to educate students to adequately compete in a rapidly evolving global economy that places a premium on math and science skills.
Emerging Trends examines the outlook for real estate capital markets and contains a comprehensive annual forecast for all categories of the commercial real estate industry, including apartments, regional malls, downtown offices, warehouses, community shopping centers, suburban offices, research and development space, power centers, full-service hotels and limited-service hotels.
In its "markets to watch" category, Washington, D.C., New York City, southern California and south Florida ranked as the top investment markets. The top markets, notes the report, all feature international gateways with physical growth barriers, solid economic underpinnings and are magnets for immigrant labor. As for specific characteristics making each favorable, Washington is considered a "government mecca" practically immune to economic downturns; New York remains a world hub for finance and culture; southern California has a strong mix of entertainment, defense and biotechnology industry; and south Florida — specifically Miami — is benefiting from both a baby boomer influx and proximity to South and Central America.
Despite having expanding populations, Dallas, Houston and Atlanta lose support among investors, due to unrestrained development and poor growth management, Emerging Trends says, noting that the desire to avoid long traffic commutes gives an advantage to markets with mass transportation networks. In general, the success and resilience of the most attractive investment locations can be attributed to 24-hour market characteristics such as upscale infill neighborhoods near commercial districts, convenient pedestrian-friendly retail, ample recreational and cultural amenities and ample transit options, the report says.
For 2005, survey respondents predict that real estate will outperform stocks (67 percent said yes, 33 percent, no) and bonds (96 percent, yes, 4 percent, no.) They also forecast that private real estate has the best asset class investment potential, ahead of domestic stocks and public real estate. In the worst case, should the economy tank from a geopolitical crisis or terrorist attack, interviewees do not believe that property markets will suffer a greater decline than stocks or bonds.
Regarding development opportunities, the report notes that although commercial construction could pick up from this year's dormant levels, prospects remain restrained. "Until markets achieve better supply/demand balance, investors are more focused on buying land, gaining entitlements, and planning projects rather than funding construction," Emerging Trends says.
